HMAS Warramunga rescues injured fisherman

5 February 2008

Timing is everything and on the afternoon of Friday 25 January 2008 the day preceding Australia Day HMAS Warramunga, under the Command of CMDR A.M. Gordon RAN, received the order to sail as the Fleet Base West long range Search and Rescue vessel.

It was reported that a crew member onboard the Spanish Fishing Vessel Illa Gaveira. had a broken arm and his condition was deteriorating. Within five and a half hours of notification to sail, 90% of the crew were onboard and the ship was preparing to sail with a doctor and translator embarked.

Warramunga sailed at 0930 and set course to rendezvous with Illa Gaveira. The ships met at 0600 Sunday 27 January 2008 340 nautical miles off the West Coast. By 0800 the injured passenger was transferred to Warramunga. The prognosis from Surgeon LEUT Lyttle was good and that, while the patient did have a fractured arm, he was in a comfortable and stable condition.

Warramunga preceded back to Fleet Base West at best speed arriving at 0815 the following day, having completed a very safe and professional SAR mission. On arrival at Fleet Base West the patient was transferred to Murdoch Hospital.